Method and means for applying slide fasteners to articles



July 19, w38. B. B. PETERSON METHOD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING SLIDE FASTENERS TO ARTICLES Filed Feb. 8, 1933 T m 7 5 w 3. B o/o J I 2 u .i E. T

- ATTORNEY.

iatented .i'riiy wg 193@ anni MIETHD AND MEANS FR APPLYHNG SUEDE FASTENERS T0 AR'EHCEJES Burieigh B. lPeteraon, Duluth, Minn., assigner to Talon, line., a corporation of Pennsylvania application February 3 i933, Serial No. 655,8@6

iii Siaims.

This invention relates to metal slide fasteners and has special reference to the application of any type of such to any form of garment; the principal objects of which are the saving vof time and thread, and the assurance of perfect application, in one operation, of the fasteners to the finished product.

it is well known that the application of metal slide fasteners by single needle operation is neither practical nor economical, and failure of fasteners to operate is usually traced to faulty application, the reason for which is due to the fact that. the slides have to be applied, each side separately, with the chance of irregularity after the operation is done. Themereinafter described inventioneliminates all oi the above defects by applying the fasteners to the garments in closed position, and thus both sides of the fasteners have to be uniform.

Through the use of'this device the saving in thread alone amounts to approximately and the cost in labor is cut down at least and the device can be attached to any compound feed. two needle machine, and the gauge of needles, and device, would have to be supplied according to size, and type of fastener to be used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear ln the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of theV standard presser foot of a two-needle sewing machine, illustrating one embodiment of the invention as applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Figure l showing the needle bar in elevation.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the presser foot proper, illustrated as slightly modified.

Figure 4 is a reduced elevation of a sewing machine head with the device attached.

i represents the presser foot bar of a two needie machine, 2 the needle bar. and 3 and d the presser foot; 3 being the arcuately shaped support for the presser foot proper which is pivotally carried thereupon as at E, the vertically extending portion t of the support 3 being insertable within the slot in the lower end of the presser foot bar and held there as by a suitable screw 1. For accommodation of the united rows of the fastener element which are carried upon the fabric strips, the presser foot proper i is slightly channeled as at 8, (see Fig. 3).

Just back of the uppermost angle of the support 3 is fixed thereto the horizontally disposed (CUE. 113-151) cylinder it being in length approximately twice the width of the presser foot proper, and rotatably carries therein the supporting shaft IB of the pivotal portion is of the guide. The cylinder, or hollow shaft S, also rigidly supports the down- 5 wardly disposed and arcuately shaped frame like structure ii (made of resilient material) which also extends forwardly of the presser bar and supports the lower members of the guide for the material passing therethrough. Thelower frame m structure consists of two identical members, each sumciently rigid to support itself independently of theother as the wings of same are spaced slightly apart as at l2 and are of fiat sheet metal, extending backwardly and the fiat horizontal portion of each being illustrated at i3, though provided with an upstanding side flange I4 which is turned inwardly for a short distance as at I5 just inwardly of the uppermost wings I 6, then turned inwardly still further as at II the remainder of their distance to substantially the converging point of same with the sides of the presser foot 6, thus forming a side channel like member for guidance of the material to which the f astener is beingattached as it passes through the machine. The approximate meetingpoint of the preser foot and horizontal anges of the channel is in substantial alignment with the pivotal point E of the presser foot proper, or these channels may extend to the forward end of the presser foot.

In the embodiment here illustrated I have shown the wings I3 as simply soldered or otherwise fixed upon the`inward1y extending and arcuately shaped ends IB of the members Ii, though it is obvious these two members may be of one integral piece if preferred, or otherwise assembled.

The uppermost pivotal frame structure, illus trated at I9, is carried upon the shaft I0, previously described, and is thus pivotally mounted,

having its free endsusceptible of vertical swinging adjustment upon said shaft. Just forwardly of this shaft is a second transverse shaft 20, Axed to the side members of the frame I9 which by the way is somewhat wider than the lower frame, composed of the members il. This shaft 29 forms a reinforcement to the frame I9 and is designed to engage beneath the spring hook 2| rigidly xed to the hollow shaft 9 for the purpose of holding the frame I9 up out of the way .when `initially applying the work to the machine. Upbn the tubular shaft 9 at one' end thereof is mounted vthe helical spring 22, one end of which is hooked over the shaft 20 as at 23 for the purpose of bias- 55 ing the frame I 9 to its closed and cooperative position with the free winged termini of the lowermost frame.

'Ihis upper pivotal frame structure is so shaped as to provide a suitable handle like protrusion 24 for manipulation thereof, and inwardly of the extreme outer end of which is carried uponthe under side of said frame the transverse sheet metal wing element I6, the sides of which are arcuate in shape as viewed from the front thereof and carry centrally a thin depending guiding member 32 which is here shown as being formed by a tight fold in the thin metal, and extends intermediate of and below the wings I3 when the device is closed for operation. In this manner vthe two sets of wings form an efficient guidefor the folds or hem on the edges of the garment to which the fastener is being applied. 'I'he hems of the two parts of the garment are first formed by hand and tucked in to proper position on top` of the lowermost wings and under the upwardly turned front end of the presser foot before the upper wings are brought downonto same.

When the hems of the garment are thus initially positioned and the upper wings brought down upon same Where they are properly tensioned by the spring 22 as before described, then the assembled fastener4 strip is placed with its lowermost end underneath the upwardly turned free end of the presser foot; it being understood that the vertically extending sides I5 which are flanged inwardly as previously described are the proper distance apart to receive the thus flatly assembled fastener, which brings the opposed carrying strips of the fastener centrally aligned under each needle, so that as sewing progresses the needles will be positively and properly aligned centrally of each fastener strip and the fold of the garment as they together pass beneath the presser foot, completing the process in a single and very efilcient operation.

It will be noted that the lateral resiliency of the wings I3 is essential for'accommodation of the. two thicknesses of cloth obliged to pass therebetween and which may vary somewhat in thickness; in fact the wings may 'be slightly changed in form `to accommodate special circumstances without departing 'from the spirit of the invention.

I have shown the uppermost wing I6 as having a.v central depending guiding fin 32 for separation of the two pleats or folds as they enter the machine.

In operation, the two parts of the garment or article to which the fastener is to be applied, are placed right side of material down on the cloth plate of the sewing machine under the folders I3 with their edges extending upwardly between said folders in the space indicated at I2. A fold is then initially started to form a hem in each side the approximate width of the fastener tapes to be applied, and which is gauged by the guide formed by the upturned edges of the folders I3, indicated at I4. The material is then started by hand back under the presser foot and there held in place by the tension thereof. The upper wing shaped folder operated by the protrusion 24 is then brought down with its centrally depending iin shaped portion 32 dividing said two edges which automatically turns them outwardly and downwardly, thus forming the hem in each.

The closed separable fastener strip is then placed with its lowermost end underneath the upwardly turned free end of the presser foot and over the aforesaid hen-is, with its central metal portion engagedin the channel 8 of the presser foot, and the upper end of the fastener is hooked up on tension line 30.

The sewing operation is then started, the operator simply guiding the two edges of the materia] into the folders where the fastener strip and the two folded edges are centrally aligned between the two needles, simultaneously stitch.- ing both parts and the fastener into one separable unit, and completing the process in a single very eicient operation.

It will be readily understood by those versed in the art that the channels formed by the wings and their cooperative side members would require a considerable change in shape for special classes of work to which the slide fastener is being attached, and furthermore the shape of the wing supporting frames might be materially changed for such special accomplishments without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For convenience in the operation of the device and particularly of the feeding of the fastener strip 26 to the device I have illustrated an upright support 21 fastened to one side of the machine head, bent over and carrying in its upper bent portion the sheaves 28 and 29l so that a tension line 30 may be passed over these sheaves and attached at one end to the strip, while a weight to counterbalance same is attached at the other end as at 3I. This provides a practical means for holding the loose end of the strip out of the way and automatically feeding same to the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A slide fastener applicator comprising in combination a. pair of laterally yieldable folder wings for forming a hem in each adjacent portion of a garment to which a fastener may be applied. and a channel like guide in alignment with the discharge end of said folder wings for passage of the folded portions of the garment and the fastener therethrough while being united.

2. The combination with the presser foot of a" two-needle sewing machine, of a hem forming guide supported in front ofsaid presser foot, and channel guides extending rearwardly from said hem forming guides andadjacent the sides of said presser foot, whereby material fed into said hem forming'guide is directed by said channel guides under the presser foot and through the sewing machine.

3. The process of simultaneously attaching both teeth-strip members of a separable slide fastener to the contiguous edges of the material to be held by the fastener which consists of juxtaposing the edges of the material to be held by the fastener, lnterengaging the complementary toothed portions of the fastener, thruout the entire length of the teeth-strips, superposing the interengaged fastener teeth-strips upon the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held and so positioning them that the central line of contact of the interengaged teeth of the fastener is approximately in registration with the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held, and simultaneously uniting each strip of the interengaged teeth-strips of the fastener beyond the teeth parts of the strip to its respective edge of the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held.

v4. The process .of simultaneously attaching two cooperating strip members of a separable fastener to the contiguous edges of `the material to be held by the fastener which consists of juxtaposing the edges of the material to be held by the fastener, interengaging the complementary asegure portions of the fastener, superposing the interengaged fastener strips upon the juxtaposed edges of Lne material to be held and so positioning them that the central line of contact of the interengaged elements of the fastener is approximately in registration with the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held, and simultaneously uniting each strip of the interenga'ged strips of the fastener beyond the fastener parts of the strip to its respective edge of the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held.

5. The method of applying simultaneously the closed members of a separable fastener to separate contiguousA edges of the material to be held by the fastener which consists in placing the edges of one end of the material to be held by the :fastener in juxtaposition, superposing one end of the closed fastener members upon the end of the juxtaposed edges of 'the material to be held, and so positioning them that the central line of contact of the closed members of therfastener is approximately in registrationwith the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held, `and simultaneously uniting each member of the closed separable fastener beyond the fastener parts of the member to its respective edge of the juxtaposed edges of the material to be held.

6. The method of applying simultaneously the closed members of a separable fastener to separate contiguous edges of the material to be held by the fastener which consists in placing the edges of one end of the material to be held by f edge of the material to be held, and uniting each fastener member to its respective hem.

7. lThe process of simultaneously hemming the contiguous edges of material to be held by a separable fastener and attaching to the hems two closed strip members carrying complementaryy fastener elementswhich consists of forming a hem fold in each of the edges of the material to be held by the fastener, juxtaposing such hemholds of the material to be held, interengalging the complementary elements of the fastener, superposing lthe interengaged fastener upon the juxtaposed folded edges of the material to be held, positioning the central line of contact of the interengage'd elements of the fastener substantially in registration with the juxtaposed contacting edges of the hem-folds of the material to be held by the fastener, and simultaneously completing the hems and untiing each strip of the interengaged strips of the fastener beyond the fastener elements of the strip to its respective hemmed edge of the material to ne held by a single series of stitches thru each hem and its re-l spective strip of the fastener.

` 8. In a device for forming hems in the juxtaposed edges of fabrics and for simultaneously sewing one part of a closed slide fastener to each hem, the combination of a guide and hem-former for attachment to the presser foot of a two-needie sewing machine having a lower part corn- `posed of two wings held in contact when emptyy centrally of the guide by fixed resilient arms, a hinged upper part held resiliently in contact with the upper surface of the fabric, flanges on the outer edges of the wings of the lower part of the guide, a downwardly projecting fln'centrally of the upper part of the guide, a twin needle presser foot having a groove centrally located in its lower surface to accommodate a closed slide fastener, a spring hook fixed to the presser foot to engage the upper part of the guide and hold it in inoperative position While the herns are initially formed and placed in the device, and means for guiding a closed slide fastener thru the groove in the presser foot and above the hems formed in the fabric.

9. A device for securing slide fasteners to a garment comprising a presser foot for attachment to the presser foot bar of a sewing machine, laterally yieldable means fixed to said foot for guiding the edges of the garment in juxtaposed relation with the fastener thereupon through the device, and means for causing a hem to be formed in each edge of the garment as it passes through the device. l

10. A device for securing sli-de fasteners to the juxtaposed edges of a garment comprising laterally yieldable means for folding said edges to form a hem therein as they pass through the device, and means for guiding a slide fastener in closed position `through the device and over said hems while being sewn thereto.

BURLEIGH E, PETERSON. 

